Noites Cariocas, Rio de Janeiro

Concierge.com's insider take:

After several shifts in artistic direction and sponsorship, what was once a yearly dance party has reemerged as a government-funded cultural festival with broader aims. For years, Noites Cariocas drew thousands of party-loving youngsters to its free, November-through-January weekend concerts on the summit of the Sugarloaf. Now, live Brazilian acts perform throughout February on a converted pier that juts into Guanabara Bay, not far from the Santos Dumont domestic airport. Workshops on street dance, theater, sports, and the visual arts are held during the week.